Killing Us Quietly: Native Americans and HIV/AIDS

By Irene S. Vernon

Book Overview

Over the past five centuries, waves of diseases have ravaged and sometimes annihilated Native American communities. The latest of these silent killers is HIV/AIDS. The first book to detail the devastating impact of the disease on Native Americans, Killing Us Quietly fully and minutely examines the epidemic and its social and cultural consequences among three groups in three geographical areas. Through a series of personal narratives, the book also vividly conveys the terrible individual and emotional toll the disease is taking on Native lives. Exploring Native urban, reservation, and rural perspectives, as well as the viewpoints of Native youth, women, gay or bisexual men, this study combines statistics, Native demography and histories, and profiles of Native organizations to provide a broad understanding of HIV/AIDS among Native Americans. The book confronts the unique economic and political circumstances and cultural practices that can encourage the spread of the disease in Native settings. And perhaps most important, it discusses prevention strategies and educational resources. A much-needed overview of a national calamity, Killing Us Quietly is an essential resource for Natives and non-Natives alike. Irene S. Vernon, of Mescalero Apache, Yaqui, and Mexicana descent, is an associate professor in the English department and Center for Applied Studies in American Ethnicity, Colorado State University. She is the author of the Native American AIDS Video Resource Manual.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080329624X
• ISBN13: 9780803296244
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Bison
• Length: 147 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Definitive Work on Native Americans and AIDS

Dr. Irene Vernon's "Killing Us Quietly: Native Americans and Hiv/AIDS" is a long-overdue, and critically needed work. Vernon provides a depth of details and information pertaining to an issue that is little researched in the academic community. The interviews, research, and discussion make this an invaluable work!

A first of it's kind and a needed title.

Vernon has written the first book to address the issues of AIDS and HIV in the Native American population. She has included interviews with both rural and urban Native Americans. She addresses the virus in women, children, IVU's and two-spirits. A commendable job covering a rarely discussed issue.